Marking mechanism for dictation machines



y 1 H. P. CLAUSEN MARKING MECHANISM FOR DICTATION MACHINES Filed Jan. 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flan/"g Clause BY Q I H. P. CLAUSEN MARKING MECHANISM FOR DICTATION MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1942.

Filed Jan. 28, 1941 1I\IVENTOR. Henry F C/ausen Patented May 26, 1942 MARKING MECHANISM MACHINES FOR DICTATION Henry P. Clansen, White Plains, N. Y., assignor to The Gray Manufactnring'Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 28, 1941, Serial No. 376,293

13 Claims.

This invention is concerned with improvements in sound recording machines of the type known as dictation machines, and.is concerned particularly with the marking mechanism by means of which a dictator may record notations with respect thereto in such manner that the transcriber may readily relate the instructions with the record tablet.

An object of this invention is the provision of marking apparatus to be placed at the dictators station, either at the dictation machine or at a point remote with respect'thereto, by means of which various instructions such as corrections, finish marks, and comment notations, may be made in such manner that they may be properly related with the sound record at the time of transcription.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of this type employing marking devices which move coincidently in timed relation to the relative movement between the record tablet and recording stylus, both in forward and back spacing directions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an indicator at the dictators station for indicating the point from which any back spacing occurs, so that the dictator may know when the recording stylus has returned with respect to the record tablet, backto the point from which back spacing began.

A further object of the invention is to Provide a control device for the recording head so that its stylus may not be engaged with the record tablet during the play-back of the portion of the record retraced during back spacing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control unit to be placed at the dictators station, remote if desired with respect'to the recording machine, by means of which all of the control operations necessary to the operation of the recording machine may be efiected in a simple manner by the dictator.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, relative location of parts, steps and series of steps, all as will be explained in full detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view with nonessential elements eliminated and in some parts broken away, of an apparatus in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the control unit.

It will. be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention may be applied to the several different forms of dictation recording machines now in use, including for example those employing wax cylinders, rigid composition discs, flexible record tablets, photographic record tablets, magnetized wire recorders, and the like.

The principles of this invention have been disclosed as applied to a machine of the type using a flexible record tablet in the form of a disc such as that disclosed in full detail in the co-pending application of Barton A. Proctor and Ferdinand C. W. Thiede, Serial No. 218,082, filed July 8, 1938. In some respects the mechanism herein disclosed is the same as that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 374,163, filed January 31, 1941.

As disclosed in the above-mentioned applications, there is a form of sound recording machine employing a very thin flexible disc of cellulose acetate and the like which has the record tablet mounted on a support so as to be rotatable, and employing connections whereby when the record tablet is caused to revolve the carriage is caused to move rectilinearly in a radial direction. In such machines the sound recording head of some suitable type, such as the piezoelectric crystal type, is positioned so that its stylus engages the record tablet over a rotatable anvil or platen constructed so that the stylus may emboss or impress a record on the disc.

As shown in Figure 1, the record tablet 3 is impaled upon a key member 2, forming part of a vertical spindle I which is journalled for rotation in a carriage 4. A worm wheel 5 mounted on the spindle I engages the threads of a threaded rod 6 which is journalled for rotation at one end in the carriage and is connected to the carriage so that the two may move together. A fixed nut I engages, the threads of the rod 6 so that as the rod revolves it is caused to move in an axial direction. The recording head 8 and the reproducing head 8' are diagrammatically illustrated, each with a stylus which engages the upper surface of the record tablet 3 over the rotatable anvil or platen wheel 9, when in actual use. A

drive wheel I0, driven by a suitable power source,

engages the under surface of the disc 3 below thepoint where an upper friction wheel II engages it when the machine is in operation.

The wheel II is mounted in an arbor or yoke (not shown) so that it may be swung down to engage the disc 3 and hold it against the drive wheel I0. This mechanism is put in operation by raising nut I and moving carriage 4 and threaded rod 6, as well as the parts related thereto, sufficiently far to the right in Figure 1 so that the stylus of the recording head will, when movedinto engagement with the disc 3, contact it at a point near its center. To operate the machine the recording head is moved so that its stylus engages the disc 3 and friction wheel I l is moved to grip the disc 3 between it and the lower rotating drive wheel II). This causes the disc 3 to rotate at a constant peripheral speed,

Spindle I being connected to the disc 3 also reconvolutions of the spiral record groove are spaced apart some suitable distance such as of the order of 0.01 inch. The result isthat the record groove starts near the center of "the disc and terminates near the periphery thereof.

Mounted on the lower' end of spindle I is a contact I2 which engages once for each rotation a fixed contact I3 supported on and insulated from the carriage 4. The carriage 4 is grounded as shown. Contact I3 is connected to one terminal of an electromagnet I4, while its other terminal is connected by wire I5 to a grounded current source I! through a switch I6. Wire I5 is connected by a switch I3, controlled by the electromagnet I4, to wire I9 which extends to one terminal of an electromagnet 20. The other terminal of this magnet is connected by wire 24 to one contact of a switch 25 mounted on a travelling support 29. The other terminal of this disc n' secured on the lower end of the shaft 2:.

The fixed contact of the manual pawl and switch 30 is connected by wire 33 to the one contact of a switch 40, the other terminal of which is grounded. Switch 40 forms part of the control unit shown in Figure 2 and is mounted thereon so that when the microphone 4| is rested on its support it holds switch 40 open, as shown in Figurefl. Wires 24 and 33 are inter-connected by switch is connected by wire 26 to a magnet I03,

the other terminal of which is connected to wire I5, by wire I06, as shown.

Electromagnet 20 operates a pivoted paw] 2| positioned when moved to engage a ratchet wheel or disc 22 integral with a'suitable threaded shaft 23. This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) so that it may rotate. The traveller 23 is slidably mounted on a pair of guide rods and is constructed so as not to engage the threads of the shaft 23, as for example by having a sufficiently large passage through it. Another support 3| is slidably mounted on the guide rods 30 and is provided with a pawl finger 32 which engages the threads of the shaft,23. v

A suitably anchored spring 33 is connected to the support 3| so as to normally urge it downwardly (see Figure 1). A pair of marking devices 34 and 35 are mounted on the support 3| and may be of any suitable form, eithermanually, electromagnetically, or otherwise operated, so as to be capable of making suitable records on a chart, as will be explained later. The traveler 29 has a slidable pin 25' mounted on it in a position to be engaged by the support 3| so as to open switch 25 when the support 3| moves downwardy, with the result that switch 25 is opened.

In normal operation the support 3| moving downwardly causes the traveller 29 to move with by having a sumciently large passage through it. As shaft 23 revolves, support 3| moves downwardly under the action of spring 33 by reason of the engagement of the finger 32 with the threads of shaft 23. r

A magnet 36 has one terminal connected to the wire I5 and the other connected by wire 31 through a contact of switch I04, which with magnet I03 forms what may be termed av shifting relay, to a combined back spacing manual and switch 38. The back spacing manual 33 is in the form of a pivoted pawl positioned for movement .into engagement with a ratchet wheel or a wire which completes circuits as will be ex- 24 is a signal light 43. the function of which will be described later. When magnet I03 is deenergized, switch I04 is in the position shown and is in a circuit including signal lamp I05. One terminal of the recorder lifting magnet H0 is connected by wire I03 to the current source I1 and its other terminal is connected by wire 31' to a grounded switch I04 forming part of relay I 03.

A switch 44 controlled by the electromagnet 36 has one terminal grounded and its other terminal connected by wire 45 to an electromagnet 46. The other terminal of electromagnet 46 is connected to the wire I5. Electromagnet 46 operates a pivoted pawl 41 positioned to engage and operate a ratchet wheel or disc 48 secured to the end of the threaded rod ,6. A switch 43 controlled by the relay 23 has one terminal grounded and the other terminal connected to an electromagnet' 50 whose circuit is completed to th wire I5.

The electromagnet 50 controls a switch 5| which is in a circuit for controlling in any suitable manner (not shown) the energization of the power source for operating the drive wheel I0.

The mechanism including the threaded shaft 23 and its related parts is all mounted in a unitary structure, a suitable form of which is illustrated in Figure 2. The threaded shaft 23, the guide rods 30, and related apparatus, are mounted in a suitable casing or housing IN on a support or base I00. These parts are so mounted that the support 3| and traveller 23 project outwardly of the casing IOI, as shown in Figure 2, so as to lie above a ruled chart C which is shaped so that it may be placed on the support in'a position as illustrated in Figure 2.

The chart C has a series of ruled lines extending at right angles to form columns or spaces. It will be noted that one column, as indicated at A', is directly under the marking device 34, while the column B is under the marking device 35. The base I00 is constructed to provide a place for the microphone 4| which when so positioned holds switch 40 open as previously explained. The manual for the combined pawl and switch 38 is mounted on the base I00 as shown. The switch 21 is also mounted on the base. A bull's-eye lens 43' is mounted on the base and the signal light 43 is placed behind it. If desired, the main power control switch I6 could be mounted on the base I00 but it is preferably a switch to be located at the dictation .machine so as to be under the control of the one who supervises the machine. The idea of this is that for large organizations there will be a central room containing a number of dictation machines, all under the supervision of an operator who will keep them supplied with record discs 3 and initially prepare them for operation upon instructions. Thus with a few machines a large number of dictators at remote points may be served by the proper selection thereof by the supervisor.

The operation of this system will now be described. It will be assumed that the supervisor has placed'a fresh disc 3 on the dictation madictation station remote, if desired, from the machine. The dictator at his station will, of course, have one of the control units of Figure 2.

The dictator moves the support 3| to its up permost limit by simply grasping ts projecting end (Figure 2) and pushing it upwardly,-since the finger 32 does not interfere with this movement. This places spring 33 under full tension.

He also slides the traveler 29 upwardly to a position adjacent the support 3! so that switch 25 is opened. He places a fresh data, sheet C on the support, as illustrated in Figure '2. It will be noted that pawls 2| and 38 are normally positioned so that they do not engage their respective ratchet wheels 22 and 38', so that neither interferes with the operation of the shaft 23 by the other. y

In order to begin dictation he removes the microphone 4| from its support, whereupon switch 40 closes. He then starts the machine by momentarily closing switch 21 which may be termed the start-stop switch. The closing of switch 21 completes a circuit from the source I! through closed switch l6, wire l5, magnet '28, switch 21, wire 39, and closed switch to ground. The energization of magnet 28 closes switch 49, completing a circuit in an obvious manner for the magnet 50. The energization of magnet 50 closes switch 5! which causes the friction wheel II to move down to engage the disc 3.

As a result of these operations, disc 3 begins immediately to rotate and the carriage 4 and threaded shaft 6 move slowly to the left. It is apparent, of course, that the actual machine is so'constructed that the pawl 41 and magnet 46 g are mounted to move with threaded shaft 6 and to maintain their proper position with respect to the ratchet wheel 48. The dictator may then speak into the microphone which is connected to the recording head 8 through suitable mechanism (not shown) and including, as disclosed in other oo-pending cases of applicant, an amplifier in the connection; The words spoken into the microphone are thus converted in electrical currents which operate the recordin head 8 to impress a corresponding record on the disc 3.

In order to stop the machine the dictator need only again momentarily close switch 21 to ener-- switch l6, and current source I! to ground.

Upon each energization of the magnet 14, switch 18 closes, completing a circuit from wire l5,

through wire iii, to magnet 29, wire 24, wire 42, and wire 39 back to ground through the switch 43. Thus for each closing of switch l2, l3, magnet 20 is energized, causing pawl 2| to engage the ratchet 22 and rotate the threaded shaft 23 a predetermined amount. At the same time lamp 43 is energized momentarily for each closing of switch l2, l3 to signal the dictator that the record is rotating,

The rotation of shaft 23 allows the support 3| to move downwardly under the action of spring 33 a corresponding amount and, of course, pushing the traveller 29 ahead of it. Thus the marking devices 34 and 35 are caused to slowly move downwardly over the chart C in timed relation to the relative movement between the disc 3 and the recording head 3.

If the dictator wishes at any point to indicate 7 that there is a correction to be made in the dietation, he may operate the marking device 34 to make a mark on the chart C in the column A at the point on the chart at which the marking device is at the moment. He can make any notations in the horizontal columns opposite these marks that he wishes, to advise the transcriber of the nature of the correction. He may then proceed to dictate, if necessary, further instructions or changes in the dictation. At the end of a particular piece of dictation he may operate the marking device 34 to make a mark in the column B at the proper point to indicate the end of the dictation and may add any further note in lows, from ground through switch 40, wire 39,

wire 42, switch 25, wire 26, magnet I03 and wire I06 to battery ll. Thus switch I04 closes to complete the circuit to magnet H0, and whenever thereafter switch 39 is closed, back spacing movements result as explained .below. The energization of magnet I [0 causes the recorder 8 to be lifted from the record.

The operation of the pawl-switch completes a circuit as follows: From ground through switch 40, wire 39, wire 31, switch I04, electromagnet 3B, and wire l5 back to the source I I. The energization of magnet 36 closes switch 44 completing a circuit from ground through wire 45, electromagnet 46, and wire l5 to the current source H. The energization of magnet 46 operates the pawl 41 which acting through the ratchet wheel 48 totates the threaded shaft 6 in a reverse direction.

The circuit for magnet H0 is always completed immediately upon any back spacing movement of the support 3| by the closing of switch 25, so that the recording head 8 is lifted from engagement with the record disc 3'. For any back spacing movement of the disc 3 it is necessary that the recorder 3 be lifted from the disc, although it is not necessary to lift the reproducing head 9' under this condition.

At this point it may be noted that pawl 41 is normally out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 43 so as not to interfere with the normal forward rotation of threaded shaft 6. The reverse rotation of threaded shaft 6 causes the record disc 3 to move radially in the reverse direction with the carriage I, i. e., both move back toward the right. The parts are preferably so proportioned that upon one operation of the manual 33 the record tablet is moved back the distance of one groove. By repeated operations of the manual 33, the record may be back spaced any desired number of grooves and the carrier 3| will likewise retrace its path a corresponding amount so that it will always bear a relation to the chart C corresponding to the relative position between the record 3 and the recording head. As soon as the carrier 3| starts its back spacing movement, switch 25 closes, and hence the stylus of the recording head 3 cannot, so long as switch 25 remains closed, be moved to engage the record,

thereby preventing any damage to the record during back spacing and return movements of the record. 4

At this point it is again noted that the machine includes a reproducing head 3' whose stylus can be moved into engagement with a record groove. The reproducing head may be connected with a loudspeaker which can be positioned at the dictators station so that he may play back the back spaced portion to refresh his mind as to what has been said.

As the back spaced portion of the record is played back, the carrier 3| again moves downwardly, and as it approaches the stationary traveller 29 the dictator is apprised of the fact. As the support 3| moves into engagement with the traveller 29, switch 25 is opened. At the end of the play back, the reproducing head if desired may be moved out of engagement with the record. The opening of switch 25 breaks the circuits to magnet I03 so that the recorder 8 moves to engage disc 3 by the opening of switch I04 and the magnet 36 is taken out of circuit by the return of switch I04 to normal position. The dictator then continues with his dictation. Throughout all these operations it will be seen that the carrier 3| which also acts as an indicator with respect to the chart C, always holds a predetermined relation with respect to the relative position of the recording or reproducing heads 8 and 8 and the, disc 3, since in the actual machine the styli of either of these heads engage the record when in use 'at the same point, i. e., over the anvil 9.

An important feature of this invention results from the use of the indicator 3| and the traveller 29. When back spaced after a period of dictation, the separation between indicator 3| and traveller 29 shows the dictator three useful facts. The amount of separation gives an indication of the amount of back spacing, the position of the indicator 3| indicates the point on the record atflwhich the reproducer engages the record, and the traveller 29 indicates when dictation left off and the point where the reproducer will engage the record when dictation begins again.

When the support 3| and traveller 29 have reached the lower limit of their traverse, the disc 3 is used up. The dictator may then stop the machine, by momentarily closing switch 21 as previously described. The dictator, by operating switch 38, energizes lamp I05 to signal the supervisor to replace the used disc with a fresh one. The circuit is from ground through switch 40, wire 39, switch 38, wire 31, switch I04 (magnet I03 is de-energized), lamp I05, wire I06, switch I6 and source II to ground. The supervisor removes the disc 3 from the machine and the dictator removes thechart C from the support I00 and sends it to the central room for transcription and filing with the record disc 3. The machine is now provided with a fresh disc and re-set for re-use. The dictator resets the marking device by pushing traveller 23 to the upper end of screw 23 carrying the indicator 3| with it. Switch 25 remains open.

During transcription the transcriber will place a filled record disc on a transcribing machine, which may be the same one as used for recording-or a special one, and apply the chart C to a mechanism similar to that in the control unit of Figure 2. As the support 3| in this unit moves in timed relation with the disc 3 and reproducing head, it will indicate to the transcriber by its position the approach to corrections or other comments and to the finish of dictation, by reason of the fact that in the reproducing machine the support 3| will continue to bear the predetermined relation to the chart C that it did during recording. 1

Signal lamp 43 is provided to indicate to the dictator that the support 3| is in motion, because of the fact that this support moves so slowly that it is easier to signal its motion by means of the lamp 43 rather than by its actual movement.

Having described one embodiment of my invention, I wish it distinctly understood that the principles thereof may be embodied in many physical forms and I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration but rather to the scope of the claims granted me.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dictation machine, the combination comprising means for forming a record on a record tablet and including relatively fixed recording and reproducing heads. a rotatable record support, means for causing forward and backward movement of the record support for recording and back spacing respectively, and means controlled by the rotation of said support to indicate the relative position of said head and record tablet at all times,

2. In a dictation machine, the combination with a movable record tablet support, a recording head for making a record on the record tablet when mounted on said support and means engaging the record for causing relative movement between said support and recording head in a forward direction, of a remote indicating means comprising a movably supported indicator, means operating as an incident to said relative movement for causing forward movement of said indicator and having marking devices mounted thereon, manually operated means for causin reverse movement of the indicator and reverse relative movement between said support and head.

3. In a dictation machine, the combination with a movable record tablet support, a recording head for making a record on the record tablet when mounted on said support and means for causing relative movement between said support and recording head in either direction, of a remote indicating means comprising a movably supported indicator, means for causing movement of said indicator in timed relation in either direction with respect to the relative movement between the support and head, and having marking devices mountedthereon, and a travelling member movably supported so as to be moved in one direction only by said indicator.

gaging a record tablet when mounted on said 7 4. In a dictation machine, the combination with a movable record tablet support, a recording head for making a record on a record tablet when mounted on said support, and means for causing relative movement between said support and recording head in one direction, of a remotely situated indicating'device comprising a movably supported indicator, means controlled by the relative movement between said support and head for moving the indicator in one direction, manually operated means for moving said indicator in the reverse direction, and means controlled by said manually operated means for causing relative movement between said support and head in a back spacing direction, whereby said indicator at all times indicates the relative position between said support and head.

5. In a dictation machine, the combination with a movable record tablet support, a recording head for making a record on a record tablet when mounted on said support, and means for causing relative movement between said support and recording head in one direction, of a remotely situated .indicating device comprising a movably supported indicator, means controlled by the relative movement between said support and head for moving the indicator in one direction, manually operated means for moving said indicator in the reverse direction, and electromagnetic means controlled by said manually operated means for causing relative movement between said support and head in a back spacing direction, whereby said indicator at all times indicates the relative position between said support and head.

6. In a dictation recording machine, the combination with a movable support, a rotatable record tablet shaft on said support, means for engaging a record tablet when mounted on said shaft for causing rotation thereof, means operated by the rotation of said shaft for effecting radial movement of said support in one direction, and a fixed recording head positioned to engage a record tablet when mounted on said shaft, of an indicating device comprising a movably supported indicator, means controlled by the rotation of said shaft for moving said indicator in one direction, and manually operated means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction, and means U controlled by said last means for causing reverse movement of said support in a back spacing direction.

7. In a dictation recording machine, the combination with a movable support, a rotatable record tablet shaft on said support, means for engaging a record tablet when mounted on said shaft for causing rotation thereof, means operated by the rotation of said shaft for effecting radial movement of said support in one direction, and a fixed recording head position to engage a record tablet when mounted on said shaft,'

of an indicating device comprising a movably supported indicator, means controlled by the rotation of said shaft for moving said indicator in one direction and manually operated means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction,

means for moving said recording head into and out of engagement with said record tablet, and

' means forming part of said indicating device shaft'for causing rotation thereof, means operated by the rotation of said shaft for effecting radial movement of said support in one direction, and a fixed recording head positioned to engage a record tablet when mounted. on said shaft, of an indicating device comprising a movably supported indicator, means controlled by the rotation of said shaft for moving said indicator in one direction and manually operated means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction, a traveller supported to be moved by said indicator, means for moving said recording head out of engagement with said tablet, and

means mounted on said traveller for energizing.

cating arm movablymounted on said support for movement over said chart, electro-magnetic mechanism for causing movement of said indicator arm in one direction, and a control manual for causing movement of said indicator in the other direction.

10. A remote indicating and control unit of the type described, including a support adapted to have an index chart mounted thereon, an indicating arm movably mounted on said support for movement over said chart, mechanism for causing movement of said indicator arm in one direction, a control manual for causing movement of said indicator in the other direction, and marking devices mounted on said indicator arm for applying marks to the chart as desired.

11. A remote indicating and control unit of the type described, including a support adapted to have an index-chart mounted thereon, an indicating arm movably mounted on said support for movement over said chart, mechanism for causing movement of said indicator arm in one direction, a control manual for causing movement of said indicator in the other direction, and a traveller arm movably mounted on said support so as to be moved by said indicator arm when it moves in one direction only.

12. In a machine of the type described, the combination including a record tablet support, a recording head, means for causing relative movement between said support and recording head in one direction, means for raising said recording head out of engagementwith a record tablet when mounted on said support, means for causing relative movement ofsaid support and recording head in a reverse direction, and means actuated by said last means for energizing said recording head lifting means.

13. In a dictation machine the combination with means for recording sound on a record and means for causing relative movement between said means and record in either direction, of a control device situated remotely with respect to the recording means and including a position indicator, means controlled by said second means for urging the position indicator in one direction corresponding to one direction of relative movement for the recording means, and

means for conjointly driving the position indicator in the oppositedirection and for causing reverse relative motion of the recording means so as to indicate at all times the position of the recording means.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN. 

